All grades received under Munster Martial Arts are internationally certified by Munster Martial Arts and our affiliates in the Intercontinental Tang Soo Do Association under Grand Master Giacobbe 8th Dan Black Belt. Grand Master Giacobbe is a recognised world leader in the modern development of Tang Soo Do.
The Tang Soo Do belt system in its progression from white to midnight blue/black represents the cycle of the seasons and the educational steps of learning. Each color stands for a specific stage of achievement. In this way we realise an essential concept of Korean philosophy, i.e., that which is born must grow and learn and reach maturity. In the World system, the white belt is the first stage of learning and the black belt is a graduate.
The belt system is futher divided as follows:
Rank
Belt
Position
10th Gup
White
Beginner
9th Gup
Yellow
Beginner
8th Gup
Orange/One White Stripe
Novice
7th Gup
Orange/Two White Stripe
Novice
6th Gup
Green/One White Stripe
Intermediate
5th Gup
Green/Two White Stripe
Intermediate
4th Gup
Green/Three White Stripe
Intermediate
3rd Gup
Red/One White Stripe
Intermediate
2nd Gup
Red/Two White Stripes
Advanced
1st Gup
Red/Three White Stripes
Advanced
1st Dan
Navy Blue or Black/One Gold or White Stripe
Bo Kyo Sa Nim Asst. Instructor